ENGLISH GIRLS A GENERATION AGO AND NOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 21 February 1879, Page 4

ENGLISH GIRLS A GENERATION AGO AND NOW.

The English girls in the old country houses a generation agone, as the oldi fashioned conservative of the " Standard " remembers them, bad|a merry, genuine, unaffected smile. When a guest dropped in unexpectedly they, wero greatly delighted to see him, and: not in the least ashamed of it. They showed an evident desire to please without a trace of an arriere pensee.. Tall, well-levelopeJ, in the height of good health, with bloom upon tbe°cheek and with brilliant eyes, they are irresistibly charming. But it was the merry laugh that dwelt bo long in the memory— a laugh from the heart in the joyousnees of youtb. Tbey joined frtely in the conversation, but did not thrust themselves forward ; and not a hint was breathed of those social scandals which now form tho staple of fashionable gossip. They were acquainted with household duties, and had not yet learned to regard them as menial. At table the mistress would suggest that tea was hardly strong enough for a man, and that a nip of brandy might improve it ; and after tha old-iime, iateafternoon tea, all the girls would draw round the fire, and when pipes were produced would ask the visitor to smoke ; and if he declined on aciount of the ladies it was pleasant to have been asked. As ! the conversation ran on each of the girls candidly avowed her opinions \ upon Boch topica aa were started, Mash-

iog a little when she was asked to give her reasons ; and there was individuality displayed that gave zest nnd intereat to the talk. This was so many i years ago ; but now when ono calls at I such a country house how different is the reception ! A Eervant shows the visitor into a drawiDg-room, furnished in the modern style, and takes the came upstairs. By end by the ladies enter in rooming costume ; not a stray curl allowed to wander from its stern bands; nature rigidly repressed ; decorum, " society," in every flounce and triroA touch of the bell, and deciiuters of port and sherry are produced, and wine is presented on an electro salver, tcgether with sweet biscuits — it being the correct thing to sip one glass and crack one biscuit. The conversation is so insipid, so entirely confined to the merest platitude*, that it becomes v relief to escape. The girle still hsve good constitutions and rosy oheeks, but they worry about it in secret, and wish they could appear thin, and white, and more lady-like. They have suppressed the slightest approach to animation. They have all got just the same opinions on the same topics, for they have none at all. The idea of a laugh has departed. They read the so-called social journals and absorb the gossip, tittle-tattle and personalities. The guest departs chilled and de-pressed. What a comfort when he can turn a corner behind a hedge, and can thrust his hands in'o his pockets and whistle 1